Headford celebrates life of brave schoolgirl Wiktoria

By JACQUELINE HOGGE NINE pink balloons were released into a snowy March sky by the heartbroken classmates of Headford schoolgirl Wiktoria Kubaczyk, whose life was celebrated at a special Mass in the town this week. The brave nine-year-old lost her fight against serious illness at a London hospital last Tuesday, after overcoming two liver transplants over the past eight months. Her parents Ana and Mario brought Wiktoriaâ€â„¢s ashes to a packed St Maryâ€â„¢s Church yesterday (Tuesday) for the Celebration of Life ceremony. Children from both the boysâ€â„¢ and girlsâ€â„¢ national schools in the town braved freezing temperatures to form a guard of honour for their friend Wiktoria, who was in third class. The family are originally from Poland but have lived in Headford for the past seven years, and since she first became sick last July, the local community has raised over €30,000 to support them. Local priest Fr Ray Flaherty told the congregation of his memories of Wiktoria, who he described as being full of fun and devilment. â€Å“But most of all, she was little girl full of sparkle and made such a difference to the lives of everyone who loved her,â€Â he said. â€Å“She galvanised an entire community, whose response since she first became ill last July has seen immense kindness and support for her parents Mario and Ana, as people rallied to help in any way they could. â€Å“We have all been praying for her over recent months and our thoughts and prayers now turn to Mario and Ana.â€Â Prayers of the Faithful were read in English and Polish by several of Wiktoriaâ€â„¢s friends, while children also brought gifts to the altar for the offertory procession. A photograph of her Communion class was placed on the altar with schoolbooks, a tin whistle, dance shoes and her precious Twistable crayons also offered as symbols of her short life. â€Å“The cuddly toy placed here before us was a constant companion of Wiktoria and one she has had since she was two,â€Â Fr Ray told the congregation. â€Å“Her favourite colours were yellow and pink, while the subjects she enjoyed most were Irish and maths. â€Å“The impact this little girl has made on so many people will be remembered for a long time to come, as our community will always look back to the meitheal spirit shown to her family throughout her illness. â€Å“They will take comfort from the knowledge that their love, kindness and support meant so much both then and now.â€Â The local choir sang throughout the Mass, with local singer Don Stiffe performing Somewhere Over The Rainbow as the Mass ended. Children filed out of the church before the final blessing to resume their guard of honour, before releasing the balloons as the snow fell. Mario and Ana will bring their daughterâ€â„¢s ashes back to Poland over the coming days, to be interred in the familyâ€â„¢s grave near Poznan, before returning to Headford after Easter. Local councillor Mary Hoade was among those to pass a vote of sympathy to the Kubaczyk family at Mondayâ€â„¢s meeting of Galway County Council, while Maria Manuela Silva of Galway Intercultural Forum also offered condolences to the family and the local Polish community on the little girlâ€â„¢s death.